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Tips to Prepare You for At Sundown: Shots in the Dark on Xbox One

by Ted Park, CEO, Mild Beast Games Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

Hello, Xbox fans! We’re super excited to be releasing At Sundown: Shots in the Dark today! It feels like it was yesterday when we entered our humble college project into Microsoft Imagine in 2016. And now we’re here on Xbox One! At Sundown: Shots in the Dark is a top-down arena shooter where you’re only visible in the light or when you’re shooting. Whenever you’re in the shadows, you’re invisible to everyone else! So, as you can guess, the key to success is hiding in the dark as much as possible. But there’s more to it than that! Here are some tips to help you become king of the shadows. Master Each Weapon’s Primary Fire In At Sundown: Shots in the Dark,... Read more

Games

Stellaris: Console Edition – Grand Strategy Isn’t Just for PCs Anymore

by Daniel Moregård, Game Designer for Stellaris: Console Edition Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

Paradox Interactive has long been known as a developer and publisher that makes a very specific kind of game extremely well. In doing so, we’ve helped establish the category of grand strategy games (GSG) and continue to create exciting new entries to the genre as well as support beloved classics. For the uninitiated, a grand strategy game is a game where players control a nation over hundreds of in-game years and influence its success through military, economic, political, and diplomatic means. Bold steps One core concept to our organization that has kept us able to deliver these experiences is that we are never afraid to take chances and try new things (and we have a strong... Read more

Games

Let Your Creativity Run Wild in Theme Park Tycoon 2 for Roblox on Xbox One

by Christofer Oberst, Technical Writer, Roblox Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

About twenty minutes into Theme Park Tycoon 2 on Roblox, I had already built what I believed to be the roller coaster to end all roller coasters. It was a contorted skyscraper of a ride, with a death-defying series of expertly crafted loop-de-loops, careening nosedives, and enough stomach-churning twists and turns to terrify even the most daring of thrill-seekers. I dubbed it the “Magnum Opus.” “Teacups, ha!” I scoffed. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” But alas, to my dismay, my guests weren’t nearly as impressed by my masterpiece. If I wanted to become a successful theme park operator, I needed to do more than just build insanely dangerous roller coasters. I had to look... Read more

Games

Realm Royale Enters Free-to-Play Open Beta on Xbox One

by Josh Nash, Community Manager, Realm Royale Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

We here at Heroic Leap Games are excited to announce that Realm Royale is launching into open beta and free to play today for all Xbox One users. Many of you have already played Realm Royale in our closed beta, and we’ve gotten a lot of great feedback on the game over the past few months. If you’re a new player who didn’t get a chance to play during our closed beta, we’d like to welcome you to play Realm Royale today to experience all that it has to offer, and to help us continue to refine and improve the game in the future. Realm Royale is a fantasy-themed battle royale which allows you to choose a class and then loot, or craft, weapons and abilities during the course of a... Read more

Games

StudioMDHR Talks Cuphead with Red Bull Gaming

Games

New Winter Map, Vikendi, Arrives for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

by Staci King, Xbox Senior Product Manager Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

Good news, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds fans: Vikendi, the new winter-themed map in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), is now available to play on Xbox One. If you have yet to join the battle, PUBG is now available with Xbox Game Pass and you can sign up to get your first month for just $1, giving you access to over 100 great games for one low-monthly price. The 6x6 layout of Vikendi brings a fresh, snowy terrain to the forefront of the action-packed, blockbuster battle royale experience, featuring European-style cities, a Cosmodrome and a dinosaur theme park. The most technically advanced map in PUBG to date, Vikendi offers players a diversity of gameplay opportunities,... Read more

Events

HCS Invitational Coming to SXSW March 15-17

by Halo Championship Series Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

Today we’re excited to reveal the first official Halo Championship Series (HCS) event of 2019 as the esports stage at the legendary SXSW (South by Southwest) festival in Austin, Texas from March 15-17. SXSW is a yearly cultural touchstone for music, film, and interactive media in the world, and we’re thrilled to bring Halo esports to the fans in attendance with over $100,000 in prizing on the line. Tickets are available for purchase here. If you are not able to make it, be sure to tune in to mixer.com/Halo and twitch.tv/Halo each day at 12 p.m. CT/10 a.m. PT. Not only will you be treated to amazing matches and gameplay, but we’ve also got some exciting MCC news to reveal during the... Read more

Games

5 Big Takeaways From the Mortal Kombat 11 Reveal

by Russ Fischer, Contributor Posted on January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

Mortal Kombat 11 has been revealed! On a rainy Thursday, in an industrial building on the edge of the Koreatown neighborhood in Los Angeles, Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon lifted the veil of secrecy from the latest chapter in the long-running fighting game series. The story of Mortal Kombat 11 (we’ll call it MK 11 from here on out) picks up right where the last game left off. Shinnok is defeated, and Raiden has been corrupted into Dark Raiden. More importantly, there are new systems and a character customization adapted from the gear system in Injustice 2. And, naturally, there are hundreds of bone-crunching, blood splattering moves, all visualized with animations that might be the... Read more

Games

New Content, New Battles, and New Rewards Are Yours in Battlefield V

by Jonas Elfving, Writer, Battlefield V Posted on January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

Ready to face intense challenges in Battlefield V? Today’s your lucky day, Tides of War Chapter 2: Lightning Strikes has arrived. What is the Tides of War? It’s the grand journey you and your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles take through World War II. Each Chapter introduces additional gameplay, improvements, and battlefields – all entirely free for Battlefield V players. Want to find out more? Read on. What You Can Play Now Dive right into weekly events and challenges starting today. They’re a great way to rank up, skill up, and earn rewards. Hit the battlefield regularly to get XP and work towards a unique Chapter rank, then unlock weapons, skins,... Read more

Games

This Week on Xbox: January 18, 2019

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox! Tips for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Blackout – Play the Free Trial Now on Xbox One Hello, Xbox fans! The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Blackout Free Trial runs from Thursday, January 17 at 10 a.m. through to Thursday, January 24 at 10 a.m. PDT. Xbox... Read more: This Week on Xbox: January 18, 2019

Games

Learning to Guac: The Journey to Guacamelee 2, Available Now on Xbox One

by Augusto Quijano, Concept Lead, Drinkbox Studios Posted on January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

¡Hola amigos! This is Augusto Quijano. In case you don’t know anything about me (you probably don’t!) I’ve been working in the games industry since 2009, focusing mainly on concept art/design and animation. I was born and raised in Mexico and moved to Canada after high school to pursue a degree in animation. Shortly after graduating, I joined the team at Drinkbox Studios, and pitched the crazy idea of making a game based on luchadores, which ultimately became Guacamelee! Guacamelee! was a labor of love and a big success for us at Drinkbox, and we’ve spent the past couple of years working on a sequel. Guacamelee! 2 is available now on Xbox One, and I thought it’d be fun to look... Read more

Games

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 22 – 25

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on January 18, 2019January 22, 2019

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to... Read more

Games

Get One Month of Xbox Game Pass and Sling TV for $1

by Kelly Lombardi, Xbox Game Pass Marketing Posted on January 18, 2019January 18, 2019

Grab your popcorn and settle in because Xbox Game Pass is partnering with Sling TV, to give you one month of all of the games and live and on-demand TV you can handle for $1. New subscribers to both services are eligible for this deal through January 30: buy one month of Xbox Game Pass for $1 and get one month of Sling TV for free. You’ll have over 100 great games to discover and play with your new Xbox Game Pass subscription, and in between all that game play, you’ll have access to over 150 channels and programming content with Sling TV, the number one live over-the-top service. With Sling TV, you can get the channels you love and the shows you don’t want to miss on your Xbox... Read more

Games

Tips for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Blackout – Play the Free Trial Now on Xbox One

by Aaron Castellan, Call of Duty Team, Activision Posted on January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

Hello, Xbox fans! The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Blackout Free Trial runs from Thursday, January 17 at 10 a.m. through to Thursday, January 24 at 10 a.m. PDT. Xbox Live Gold members can jump in now for free to experience Call of Duty’s fun, fresh take on the battle royale genre. In Blackout, you’ll never have the same experience twice. Each match is its own unique experience, filled with a multitude of decisions, each of which can impact the outcome of the game. Do you wingsuit into the center of the map, or attempt to play the periphery? Do you play aggressively or a bit more tactically? Should you drop in at Firing Range or Array? Are you willing to risk a zombies encounter or no?... Read more

Games

Free Play Days: Override: Mech City Brawl, Metro 2033 Redux, and Metro: Last Light Redux

by Vincent Wang, Product Marketing Manager, Xbox Posted on January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

This weekend, Xbox Live Gold members can play Override: Mech City Brawl, Metro 2033 Redux, and Metro: Last Light Redux for free as part of the Free Play Days event. Starting on Thursday, January 17 at 12:01 a.m. PST and running through to Sunday, January 20 at 11:59 p.m. PST, you’ll be able to experience epic mech battles and thrilling post-apocalyptic adventures. Find and install the games here. To download on console, click on the Gold member area on the home dashboard. During the week, the games will also be available at a discount (see below) so you can continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned in-game. Override: Mech City Brawl ($29.99 SRP) at 35%... Read more

Games

Sharpen Your Skills in the Jump Force Open Beta on Xbox One

by Ibrahim Amas, Digital Business Coordinator Bandai Namco Entertainment America Posted on January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

Our world is being attacked! With villains from Shonen Jump manga wreaking havoc on Earth, it’s up to you to defend this place we call home. Luckily, the Jump Force is here to help, made up of heroes from iconic properties and storylines we all know and love, this exciting mashup of characters from epochal manga such as “Naruto,” “Dragon Ball Z,” “One Piece” and more, gives you the ultimate chance to join your favorite heroes and save our world. Each battle will not only allow you to bring out the strengths and signature moves of each character but will also put your skills on forefront of the battlefield. With that, we’re excited to invite you to participate in the... Read more

Games

The 5 Biggest Changes to the Dark Zone in Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

The launch of Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is nearly upon us, and everything we’ve seen to date says its going to be bigger and better than its predecessor in every way. Set seven months after the first game’s Black Friday event, the seasonal change looks to be one of the most visible differences, as the snowy winter setting has been replaced by a hot, humid, and stormy summer. The locale has changed too, as agents from The Division receive a distress call from Washington DC and move on from New York City. According to the game’s developers at Massive Entertainment and Red Storm Entertainment, The Division 2 will feature a 40ish hour story mode that can be played solo or... Read more

Feature story

Blue Skies are a Good Sign in Metro Exodus

by Ludwig Kietzmann Posted on January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

Looking up to a crisp blue sky in a Metro game doesn’t seem quite right. It’s a suspicious new vision in a series known for carving a living out of resolutely detailed, subterranean hell. Metro has been elegant and perfectly dour in digging this hole for humanity, documenting the dwindling hopes of people that somehow persist in Moscow’s crumbling subway network, itself buried like a giant skeleton beneath an irradiated world-that-was. A blue sky in a harrowing game of survival just seems rude at this point, like a pop of festive funeral confetti. After playing a few hours of Metro Exodus, however, I have come to see this blue sky intruder as a confident display of the heights... Read more

Games

Smoke and Sacrifice Available Now on Xbox One

by George Morgan, Product Manager, Curve Digital Posted on January 16, 2019January 15, 2019

Hello, Xbox Wire readers! I’m George Morgan, Product Manager for Curve Digital, and today I’m here to tell you about Smoke and Sacrifice, a narrative-driven RPG that's available now on Xbox One. Smoke and Sacrifice follows the story of Sachi, a mother who due to a tradition lasting many years, is forced to sacrifice her first born son to The Sun Tree, an ancient piece of technology that provides sunlight to the dying wasteland that she and her fellow community live in. When Sachi gets a hint that maybe not everything is as it seems, she sets off on a grand adventure to find the truth where she’s met with friendship, fearsome beasts to slay, a multitude of crafting... Read more

Games

Xbox Game Pass: We Happy Few, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, The LEGO Movie Videogame, and More

by Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Posted on January 16, 2019January 17, 2019

Hi, Xbox Game Pass friends! Don’t want to freak you out, but we turned around today and suddenly there were even more games sitting on our desk. We’re going to need a bigger desk... and you’re going to need some free time, because there’s so many games on the way. We’re dropping four awesome games in the next two weeks, and you can sign up to get your first month for just $1, so if your crew isn’t already on the Xbox Game Pass hype train, tell them to get on that ASAP. Now let’s get to some details on our latest games: We Happy Few (January 17) – Xbox One X Enhanced A first-person action game set in a retro-futuristic alternate 1960s England. Conformity is key,... Read more

Games

Train Sim World: The Northern Trans-Pennine is Available Now on Xbox One

by Jordan Searle, Associate Producer, Train Sim World Posted on January 15, 2019January 15, 2019

A whole new world is available now in Train Sim World’s latest route add-on! The Northern Trans-Pennine: Manchester - Leeds route unleashes our players on the hills and mountains that make up the backbone of England in a route filled with new challenges and features. The Route The Northern Trans-Pennine route takes on the mountains directly - facing the challenge of running through and over them. This will give you a set of unique challenges as you battle steep gradients to bring passengers home on time. We’ve also set this route in the 1980s and gone to great lengths to capture the industrial grease and grime from that era to bring the world to life around you. Many of... Read more

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